MLB Rumors

Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg was at the top of his game Tuesday against the Giants, but it was not enough to get him a win, thanks to the team's bullpen woes.

Strasburg pitched seven strong inning in the game, the third time in his last four starts he has gone at least seven innings. He held the Giants to just one run on five hits and three walks while striking out seven batters. He had nine groundball outs to just four fly ball outs, and allowed only singles in the outing.

Unfortunately, his strong effort was wasted, as the Nationals' bullpen allowed three runs in 2 1/3 innings, in a 10-inning, 4-2 loss. Strasburg remains 2-5 on the season, with a 2.66 ERA.

Strasburg will try to get back on the winning side in his next outing, scheduled for Monday against the Rays. 

Braves catcher Evan Gattis has been a bit all-or-nothing recently, but his tremoundous power sparked another win Tuesday against the Twins.

Gattis, who appeared for the fourth time in a row as a pinch-hitter, hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the game into extra-innings. Atlanta would go on to win 5-4.

Despite losing his everyday role, Gattis has continued to impress his teammates, with his second pinch-hit homer in a week.

"It's awesome to see," said Braves starter Tim Hudson. "People around the league are scratching their heads, trying to figure out how to make sure he doesn't put the ball in the seats."

Gattis has nine home runs in 118 at-bats, with 23 runs driven in. 

Diamondbacks starter Ian Kennedy ran into trouble early on, but managed to strike out six and settle with a no-decision Tuesday night against the Rockies.

Kennedy allowed run-scoring singles to both Nolan Arenado and DJ LeMahieu in second before serving up a solo home run to Troy Tulowitzki in the third. He was charged with four runs -- three earned -- and seven hits over six innings of work. He threw 102- pitches, 68 called for strike.

Kennedy has allowed three runs or more in four of his last five starts. He is 1-1 with a 4.99 ERA over that stretch. He is scheduled to make his next start Monday at home against Texas. He is 2-1 with a 4.83 ERA in five starts at home.

Braves catcher Brian McCann snapped out of an 0-for-8 slide Tuesday against the Twins, with his third multi-hit game of the season.

McCann went 3 for 4 in the game with two RBI, including a solo home run in the fourth inning after an hour-plus rain delay. McCann scored once, in a 5-4, 10-inning win.

McCann is now hitting .282 with four home runs and 12 RBI in 12 games since returning from offseason shoulder surgery. 

Rockies starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin ran into trouble late in his outing as he failed to secure an early lead Tuesday night against the Diamondbacks.

Chacin, who made his eighth start of the season, pitched six scoreless inning before blowing a four-run lead in the seventh. He allowed a two-run double to Jason Kubel and a two-run single to Martin Prado before being pulled. The right-hander was charged with three runs -- four earned -- and three hits over 6 1/3 innings of work. He struck out two and walked one in a 5-4 win in extras.

Chacin has allowed 12 runs -- 11 earned -- combined in his last two starts (11 2/3 innings). He is scheduled to make his next start Monday at Houston. He is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in three starts away from Coors Field.

Cubs infielder Darwin Barney went 4 for 4 Tuesday against the Pirates, raising his batting average above .200 for the first time since May 1.

Barney had three singles and a double in the game, while driving in one run and scoring two. The Cubs would go on to lose the game, 5-4, despite his efforts. He is now batting .223 on the season, with a .695 on-base plus slugging percentage. 

Royals starter Wade Davis endured some command issues as he walked four but did not factor in the decision Tuesday night against the Astros.

Davis served up a three-run home run to Jimmy Paredes in the third inning for his only damage of the night. The right-hander was charged with three runs and eight hits over five innings of work. He struck out five in a 7-3 victory.

Davis has not made it out of the sixth inning in his last three starts. He is 1-1 with a whopping 8.21 ERA over that span. He is scheduled to make his next start Sunday at home against the Angels. He allowed four runs and nine hits over 5 1/3 innings of work in his previous start against the Angels on May 15.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was back on the field Tuesday against the Cubs, after missing the team's previous game with a right knee injury.

McCutchen went 0 for 4 in the game, snapping a streak of three multi-hit games. He accrued no other stats in a 5-4 win. He is batting .274 with a .798 on-base plus slugging percentage in 164 at-bats. 

Reds shortstop Zack Cozart was back in the lineup Tuesday against the Mets, after missing the previous two games due to an illness.

Cozart went 1 for 5 in the game with one strikeout, in a 4-0 win. Cozart's is batting just .206 on the season.  

Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke endured a rough outing as he dropped his first decision of the season Tuesday night against the Brewers.

Greinke, who made his second start since returning from a broken left collarbone, gave up nine hits, five earned runs and three walks -- all a season high --  in four innings of work against his former team. Greinke was traded to the Angels midseason in 2012 before signing with the Dodgers in the offseason.

"I didn't think about it at all," Greinke said. "Everything was bad, not just command. Just no feel out there, no adjustments to be made. Started out bad. I got out of some jams early but never really got better."

Greinke has allowed six runs in 9 1/3 innings of work since returning from injury. He will try to bounce back Monday at home against another former team -- the Angels.